front suspension = clunking noise?
07-23-2006 | 04:45 PM
#51
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by Kemo
every small GM car has this THUNK. Just upgrade to a better strut if thats the case. Cheap as hell. I dont know why you would trade it in, that'd be dumb.
Or a better idea, take the car in since its under warranty and have the front end checked out. There isn't much to check, should be extremely easy to spot it. You got struts, springs, axles, ball joints and tie rods to check out...
Or a better idea, take the car in since its under warranty and have the front end checked out. There isn't much to check, should be extremely easy to spot it. You got struts, springs, axles, ball joints and tie rods to check out...
Who said there going to trade there car in. I've been in serveral cobalts and none have the thump in the steering wheel like mine. It feels like something gets loose when you go over bumps. I brought it the first time and they said that it was the intermediate shaft and that they will fix it. After it was fixed it still had the same problem. Then I brought it back and I took the service guy for a drive. He said the thump is normal. He woudn't even allow the car to get brought in to get checked at. I talked to chevy and they said they will contact management as soon as possible.
07-23-2006 | 04:52 PM
#53
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Joined: 07-21-06
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From: Minnesota
its what they get for using cheaper parts. If i were a dealer, i wouldn't want to fix something i screwed up on, why? because with this many cars out there with the same issue, thats a LOT of money to be put into solving the problem.
You will see this on american vehicles using cheap generic asian parts.
The best thing is, tell them to bring the car in on a hoist, tell them to shake down the front end and check for ball joints or loose tie rods. if they cant spot that, inspect the drive axles, and then the struts.
oh and btw... Golf Girl was the one talking about trade in.
You will see this on american vehicles using cheap generic asian parts.
The best thing is, tell them to bring the car in on a hoist, tell them to shake down the front end and check for ball joints or loose tie rods. if they cant spot that, inspect the drive axles, and then the struts.
oh and btw... Golf Girl was the one talking about trade in.
07-23-2006 | 05:13 PM
#55
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From: Pittsburgh
Originally Posted by hardtocope
Do you think chevy will do anything about my problem.
07-23-2006 | 05:39 PM
#58
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From: Minnesota
fixed it and the same exact sound is back?
Time to bring it back in and let them KNOW you are not happy. Ask to see the new part before installation and the old part after installation. Try to be a pain in the ass and act unhappy until they realize you are satisfied. being a mechanic, a pissed off customer is not the best thing to have, and we always fix it right
Time to bring it back in and let them KNOW you are not happy. Ask to see the new part before installation and the old part after installation. Try to be a pain in the ass and act unhappy until they realize you are satisfied. being a mechanic, a pissed off customer is not the best thing to have, and we always fix it right
07-23-2006 | 05:42 PM
#59
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From: Florida
yes same problem again... the problem for me is i took the service guy for a ride and he said thats nothing abnormal, that clunk is normal and i should be happy my car rides so smooth.. well **** i'm not happy cause clunk sounds like crap and i want to lower my car eventually but i want all these damn problems fixed first.
07-23-2006 | 05:50 PM
#60
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From: Minnesota
see what you can do to get resources to prove that the problem DOES exist. Thats really the best information i can give to you. Normally, we take in any vehicle that makes the noise and try damn hard to find it. More often than not, we do and cure it.
07-23-2006 | 05:53 PM
#61
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From: Florida
how to i prove it exists? the service guy heard it and he said... nope nothing abnormal.. sorry that CLUNK in your steering wheel is what your suppose to hear when going over bumps and on gravel roads.. yeah BS.
07-23-2006 | 05:53 PM
#62
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From: Pittsburgh
hardtocope,
Make absolutely CERTAIN that it is the same problem. I had both the intermediate shaft AND the suspension clunk, still have the suspension clunk because last I checked they were waiting on a fix - either axel or strut most likely.
The noise sounds VERY similar (steering and suspension) and it does it under the same conditions.
If all else fails, take it to another dealer and explain the problem to them.
Make absolutely CERTAIN that it is the same problem. I had both the intermediate shaft AND the suspension clunk, still have the suspension clunk because last I checked they were waiting on a fix - either axel or strut most likely.
The noise sounds VERY similar (steering and suspension) and it does it under the same conditions.
If all else fails, take it to another dealer and explain the problem to them.
07-23-2006 | 05:53 PM
#63
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From: Florida
how to i prove it exists? the service guy heard it and he said... nope nothing abnormal.. sorry that CLUNK in your steering wheel is what your suppose to hear when going over bumps and on gravel roads.. yeah BS.
07-23-2006 | 05:57 PM
#64
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From: Florida
I know it's the same clunk cause i can feel it in the steering wheel, the steering wheel clunks, jerks a little, and feels lose at the same time when this all happens. The intermediate shafts only helped a little bit but it's still doing it.
07-23-2006 | 06:00 PM
#65
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From: Minnesota
if that sound was supposed to be there, it would have been right when you bought the car. They KNOW what the problem is, they are just neglectant to solve the problem because the dealer has to eat the cost of the repair.
07-23-2006 | 06:06 PM
#67
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From: Pittsburgh
Originally Posted by hardtocope
i've had this problem since day 1 when i bought the car.. but it seems to me like it shouldn't be there.. also when i install my rims on my car the clunk gets a lot worse.
07-23-2006 | 06:17 PM
#68
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by alleycat58
Lemme guess - smaller sidewall tires? SMaller sidewall would give less cushion, so you'd get more feedback from the road while you're steering/going over bumps, so yeah, I would imagine it would get louder.
07-24-2006 | 06:17 PM
#71
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
Originally Posted by ballerSS
I beleive there is a TSB for that. If you get a 'cluck' when turning the steering wheel all the way side to side then the dealer should fix that. I think they replace or re-lube an intermediate shaft in the steering column.
The noise I get is a loud, deep, shudder/rattle in the front suspension (felt through the steering column) when I'm driving slow over bumpy roads or sometimes just while braking. I took it in thinking it was what the TSB was for, but the dealer said 'Yup, they can hear the noise, but it's normal'. It makes the car sound pretty junky, but as long as it's not a serious problem, or one that will get worse, I can live with it.
The noise I get is a loud, deep, shudder/rattle in the front suspension (felt through the steering column) when I'm driving slow over bumpy roads or sometimes just while braking. I took it in thinking it was what the TSB was for, but the dealer said 'Yup, they can hear the noise, but it's normal'. It makes the car sound pretty junky, but as long as it's not a serious problem, or one that will get worse, I can live with it.
08-05-2006 | 10:31 PM
#72
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From: Canora, SK Canada
I'm getting the front stab links replaced. I am quite sure thats what the noise is. Jack the front end up and give the links a wiggle and will probably hear it.
Last edited by WJT DEMON; 08-06-2006 at 12:39 PM.
08-06-2006 | 10:48 AM
#73
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From: chicago
Originally Posted by WJT DEMON
I'm getting the front stab links replaced. I am quite sure thats what the noise is. Jack the front end up and give the links a wiggle and will probably here it.
08-06-2006 | 11:27 AM
#74
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From: chicago
Originally Posted by Golf Girl
Hi everyone 
My Cobalt's odometer just flipped 14,000 miles today and the older it gets, the louder this clunking noise gets. It sounds terrible--like a cheap car!--when you drive slow over bumps, pot holes, railroad tracks, etc. Drive fast and you don't hear it!
So I took it to Chevy a few weeks back and explained to my service advisor what I am hearing. It's the front suspension, I was told, and there is nothing he or Chevy can do about it. Apparantly, this problem has been in existance since the very first Cobalt and Chevy did repairs at $700 per car, until it got to be too expensive and Chevy decided no more until they can come up with a 'cheaper' fix (no pun intended).
Has anyone had this problem and was able to get it fixed? Has the noise returned? Shouldn't there be a Recall on this?
Another 14,000 miles and I'll either be bald from pulling my long hair out, or driving a Volkswagen!
Please, Chevy, fix my car!!!!
My Cobalt's odometer just flipped 14,000 miles today and the older it gets, the louder this clunking noise gets. It sounds terrible--like a cheap car!--when you drive slow over bumps, pot holes, railroad tracks, etc. Drive fast and you don't hear it!
So I took it to Chevy a few weeks back and explained to my service advisor what I am hearing. It's the front suspension, I was told, and there is nothing he or Chevy can do about it. Apparantly, this problem has been in existance since the very first Cobalt and Chevy did repairs at $700 per car, until it got to be too expensive and Chevy decided no more until they can come up with a 'cheaper' fix (no pun intended).
Has anyone had this problem and was able to get it fixed? Has the noise returned? Shouldn't there be a Recall on this?
Another 14,000 miles and I'll either be bald from pulling my long hair out, or driving a Volkswagen!
Please, Chevy, fix my car!!!!
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Quote: Originally Posted by zzzzzzzzwow these guys are baffled now they replaced a stut mount and still i have the rattle
now they are going to replace the whole steering shaft lol so far interm.shaft,sterring gear kit.strut mount.
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2005 CoBALT L.S , fully loaded.....mods. shorthy ant.,tinted windows, viper alarm, waiting for turbo